Source: SKY_Sports
Aston Villa v Portsmouth preview
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} Aston Villa will be looking to heap more misery on hapless Portsmouth at Villa Park on Saturday and continue their recent good run of form.[LNB] Martin O'Neill's men have put their opening day defeat at home to Wigan firmly behind them and, despite failing to qualify for the group stages of the Europa League, have won three consecutive Premier League games.[LNB]Portsmouth on the other hand are in danger of being cast adrift at the foot of the table having lost all five of their league games to date.[LNB]Manager Paul Hart remains calm but even the most optimistic of Pompey supporters may be questioning whether their side can really turn the tide at Villa Park.[LNB]However the South Coast club will be buoyed by the fact that Villa invariably struggle at home. The Villans only won seven of their 19 home games last season, drawing 10 and losing twice.[LNB]Having already lost 2-0 to Wigan at Villa Park this term O'Neill will be looking to build on the 1-0 success over Fulham on home soil and raise his side's confidence in front of their own supporters.[LNB]Hart has been busy in the transfer market in recent weeks having lost a number of his star players over the summer and he will be hoping they can gel just enough to get a result. [LNB]Villa have no new injuries to contend with but O'Neill must wrestle with the idea of whether to stick with Gabriel Agbonlahor as a lone striker or bring in either John Carew or Emile Heskey to help lead the line.[LNB]The Villans looked bereft of ideas in the derby against Birmingham last week until Carew came on deep into the second half and subsequently nodded the ball down for Agbonlahor to head a late winner, and he appears to be at the front of the queue should his manager wish to change his system.[LNB]New signings Richard Dunne, James Collins and Stephen Warnock all made impressive debuts against the Blues last week and all should make their home bows against Pompey.[LNB]Defenders Curtis Davies (shoulder), Wilfred Bouma (ankle) and winger Stewart Downing (foot) all remain sidelined while Luke Young is still struggling with a thigh problem.[LNB]Portsmouth have no new injuries to concern manager Hart ahead of the trip to the Midlands.[LNB]Defender Steve Finnan returned to training this week following hamstring trouble but is still not deemed fit enough to make his first appearance for the club.[LNB]Fellow defender Herman Hreidarsson is also nearing a comeback after a foot problem but the Villa game has come too soon for the Icelander.[LNB]Other absentees include midfielder Papa Bouba Diop (hamstring) and new striker Aruna Dindane who is undergoing a two-week fitness programme to help try and cure a knee injury. [LNB]Probable starting XIs:[LNB]Aston Villa: Friedel, Cuellar, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, A. Young, Sidwell, Petrov, Milner, Agbonlahor, Carew.[LNB]Portsmouth: James, Vanden Borre, Belhadj, Kaboul, Ben-Haim, Brown, Mokoena, O'Hara, Boateng, Smith, Piquionne.[LNB]
